Governor of Tubas says injured by protester

TUBAS (Ma’an) -- A northern West Bank governor was injured on Saturday night after a protester threw rocks at him during a protest against rising living costs.

Governor of Tubas Marwan al-Tubasi suffered a moderate head wound when he was hit by a rock in Fara village, he told Ma'an. The governor said he went to the village to appeal to people not to shut down roads and damage property.

Locals said protesters had shut down two main roads from Tubas to Jenin, and to Tamoun, for several hours by burning tires.

The governor said they burnt advertising boards and pictures of Palestinians killed in conflict with Israel, causing 100,000 shekels ($25,150) worth of damage.

Across the West Bank this week, Palestinians have launched strikes and mass marches to protest growing economic hardship. Some political figures have expressed concern that shutting roads and damaging public property will lead the protests to spiral out of control.